Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (4^th from left, seated) urges officers and members of the Samahang Kababaihan ng San Carlos City (SCC) led by Shirley Ico (5^th from left, seated) and Ernesto Discipulo (6^th from left, seated) to “engage in livelihood ventures for them to help more than 4,000 members of their organization. During the callers day held on September 18, Governor Espino also assured the full-support of the incumbent provincial administration on the undertakings of the women organization as he encouraged them to avail of the livelihood assistance program of the province to start their project. Assisting the governor is Provincial Sports Director Modesto Operania (standing). /TQuimson.

Lingayen- – -The provincial government through the Provincial Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Office (PHUDCO) has peacefully resettled some 47 families that formerly resided at the back of Casa Real to give way to the rehabilitation works of the historical edifice soon.

Engr. Angelito Pedeglorio, PHUDCO caretaker, said that all 47 families who used to dwell in Sitio Lagasit are now comfortably residing at their new home in Sitio Aplaya, Brgy. Pangapisan here.

Pedeglorio said that dialogues were conducted between the provincial government and the concerned families in which a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in favor of resettlement was unanimously signed by all 47 households.

Meanwhile, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. said that the present administration wants to put things in order first before proceeding with the bigger project of restoring one of the oldest public buildings in Pangasinan which was the seat of the provincial government during the Spanish era.

It can be recalled that the Casa Real was declared as a National Historical Landmark in which the Espino administration envisioned to transform into a provincial museum to house historical and cultural relics and memoirs that can provide every Pangasinense and the future generation a visual source of information and appreciation of one’s culture.

In relation to the resettlement, the Governor further said that more families especially those who reside along coastal areas will also be transferred to Sitio Aplaya to start a new life which is hazard-free.

Pedeglorio, on the other hand, disclosed that the provincial government has assured all families who are set to be transferred to the resettlement site that there is nothing to worry because Sitio Aplaya is equipped with primary necessities like electricity and water supply.

Families should need some few adjustments with their new environment but they are assured that the resettlement area is more comfortable than their former residence.

The Casa Real restoration may soon be started as the budget for its restoration has been made available. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

LINGAYEN – Provincial Liga ng mga Barangay President and Board Member Amado “Pogi” Espino III exhorted members of the Integrated Midwives Association-Pangasinan Chapter to strengthen their organization by intensifying their efforts at providing healthcare services to people in the communities.

Speaking on behalf of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.during the midwives’ congress held at the Dagupan Village Hotel in Dagupan City on September 1, BM Espino underscored the importance of healthcare and maternal care, specifically, in the promotion not only of a well-developed community but also of a well-developed nation.
As the young Espino stressed that “health is wealth,” he pointed out that the healthcare program has been one of the most rewarding thrusts of the Espino administration that earned significant achievements for the province.

“We need more efforts and initiatives from organization like yours to further boost the healthcare potentials of our province towards remarkable achievements,” Espino told the midwives, as he congratulated them for the sacrifices they have rendered in the name of public service as frontliners in the grassroots community.

We, in the provincial government, are proud to say that we have effected various developments like the upgrading of hospitals and other hospital facilities and equipment.
We are even more proud to announce that our government hospital, the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City is now at par with the private hospitals as it now boasts of its modern dialysis center, a CT scan and other modern equipment thus, earning the distinction as a “hospital of choice.”

As this developed, IMAP president Virginia del Castillo from Urdaneta City said the midwives organization now lists over 500 membership provincewide.
Del Castillo expressed pride that as frontliners of public service, they are able to provide  service to the people especially those at the grassroots level.

Lingayen – About 290 provincial government-supported scholars have finished their technical-vocational (tech-voc) courses under the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) that was allocated by the provincial government.

Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President Amado “Pogi”  Espino, III exhorted the scholars during the mass graduation ceremony held on September 1 at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center “to strive more to usher in a good future for their families.”

Citing their completion of the TWSP as “a life-changing opportunity,” the young Espino, who represented Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr., conveyed the incumbent provincial administration’s all-out support to tech-voc education.

The province of Pangasinan recently was adjudged as regional winner and national finalist in the 2015 Kabalikat award (LGU category – provincial level) given by the TESDA to recognize the province’s programs, projects and advocacies that are implemented in support to tech-voc education.

BM Espino was assisted by TESDA Provincial Director Manuel Wong and Pangasinan Provincial Employment Services Office (PESO) Manager Alex Ferrer on the distribution of training certificates to the scholars from 11 tech-voc schools in the province that implemented said program.

The tech-voc schools include: Acres Professional Institute and Review Center, Inc., (Dagupan City), Marianne College of Science and Technology (Bayambang), Golden West Colleges Inc. (Alaminos City), Manila Montessori College International (Dagupan City), Development Academy for Technical Excellence, Inc. (Urdaneta City), Extendicare Training Center (Dagupan City), CMV Technical Institute (Alaminos City), Dagupan Colleges Foundation, Inc. (Dagupan City), STI Alaminos Inc., (Alaminos City), OBC Learning and Assessment Center (Alaminos City) and Instituto Centro Asia Inc. (Dagupan City).

The provincial scholars took up courses on food and beverages, housekeeping, computer hardware servicing, consumer electronics servicing, cookery and front office servicing.

The tech-voc financial assistance program, one of the scholarship programs of the provincial government, is managed by the Pangasinan PESO. Grantees of this program are those enrolled in technical and vocational or other short-term training programs like those under the TESDA. The program provides a maximum of Php7, 000 per course.

Lingayen- – -Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. through his son and namesake Provincial Liga ng mga Barangay president Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III expressed thanks to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) under the leadership of Secretary Mar Roxas for the awarding of 44 patrol cars to Pangasinan towns as part of the national government’s PNP Modernization Program.

In the awarding ceremony held at the Pangasinan PPO on September 1, BM Pogi said that the Mahindra patrol cars, which were awarded to each of the 44 local government units (LGUs) in Pangasinan, will serve as a welcome development that will further boost the peace and order program at the local level.

Negros Occidental Representative Jeffrey Ferrer, who came in lieu of Secretary Roxas said that the national government wants to fully implement the Daang Matuwid program via different endeavors to include the modernization of the police force.

Ferrer, who chairs the committee on public order and safety and is one of the authors of the PNP modernization program along with Pangasinan 2nd district representative Leopoldo N. Bataoil disclosed that after long years of oblivion it is rightful to modernize the police force.

Stressing that peace and order ranks among the topmost priorities of the present administration, BM Pogi said that the PNP Modernization Program is truly noteworthy.

It can be recalled that in 2013, the national government has released a total of P2.86 billion to cover the hiring of 7,439 non-uniformed personnel, the procurement of 1,400 patrol jeeps, 13,597 long firearms and 4,997 mobile radios among others.

Out of the 1,400 patrol cars, a total of 500 were already turned over to various LGUs in the country while 900 more are scheduled to be distributed.

The blessing and turnover program was attended by DILG Undersecretary Edwin
Ragus Enrile, regional police officers led by PCSupt Benjamin T. Hulipas, and the chiefs of police and mayors of the 44 Pangasinan towns.

Meanwhile, PSSupt Rolie Saltat, OIC-Pangasinan PPO, said that the distribution of patrol cars is part of the PNP’s Oplan Lambat Sibat project that was launched to lower crime rates throughout the country. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

Lingayen – Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas congratulated the Province of Pangasinan under the leadership of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. for passing the 2015 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).

In a letter to Gov. Espino, Sec. Roxas pointed out that the provincial government of Pangasinan has met all the criteria of the core components of the SGLG, namely: good financial housekeeping, social protection and disaster preparedness.

The province of Pangasinan has also hurdled the “essential components” of the seal which include business-friendliness and competitiveness, environment management and peace and order.

The assessment for SGLG was conducted in 2014 as basis for the conferment of the 2015 seal.

Meanwhile, DILG Provincial Director Regie Colisao informed governor Espino during a courtesy call on August 24 that the 2015 SGLG entitles the province to access the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) with cash incentive of Php7 million.

As stated in the letter, the SGLG also allows the LGU to secure the Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH) certification for loan purposes; and provides an opportunity to avail of other national programs like Bottom-Up Budgeting and the SALINTUBIG which is subject to specific program guidelines.

SGLG is an upgraded version of the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) to include other performance indicators.

It can be recalled that LGU – Pangasinan bagged the SGH in 2011 and 2012, having been recognized with its good performance in internal housekeeping, particularly in local legislation, development planning, resource generation, allocation and utilization, customer service and human resource management and development.

For passing SGH in 2011, the province received the local government support fund amounting to Php 40 million which was used for the implementation of the following projects: concreting of Manleluag road in Mangatarem, (Php 25.452M),  concreting of Napudot road in Balungao (Php 5.798M) and construction of Ambonao RCDG in Calasiao (Php 8.750M).

In the same year, Pangasinan also received Php 7M cash incentive of PCF in 2011 that was utilized for the concreting of the 1.2km Bobonot-Tambobong road in Dasol.

In 2012, another Php 7M cash incentive of PCF was awarded to the province for passing the SGH. Said amount was used for the block topping (asphalting) of the Pao-Pozorrubio provincial road.

Province of Pangasinan also bested other provinces in the region to capture the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi (mother of all awards) in 2012 along with a PCF cash incentive of Php 3M which was spent for the construction of one-unit classroom school building at the Infanta Integrated School.     /Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca

PHO conducts 9th TB Caravan.  (Left photo) Medical personnel from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) prepare the sputum samples from suspected TB patients for direct sputum smear microscopy (DSSM), a laboratory test provided for free during the 9th TB Caravan of the provincial government held on August 19 at the Infirmary and Urgent Care Clinic in Mangaldan. (Right photo) Free-of-charge skin consultation and health teaching from PHO staff, along with chest x-ray examination, tuberculosis (TB) skin test were also offered during the TB caravan that was held in observance of the National Lung Month this August. /Photos courtesy of PHO

LINGAYEN – Preparations are now in full swing for the staging of the Provincial Employment Services Office’s (PESO) Jobs and Livelihood Fair with One-Stop Shop for Government Programs and Services to be held in Mangaldan on September 2, 2015.

PESO Manager Alex F. Ferrer said the event will be held at the Macario Ydia Development Center (MYDC) stating at 8:00 a.m.
Ferrer said the project is part of the provincial government’s Bantay Barangay, Tulong-Hanapbuhay Program which seeks to provide employment assistance and livelihood opportunities to the people especially those in the barangays.

It is also a convergence project with the Mangaldan LGU and OF/W Returnees and their Dependents Organization (MORADO) in support to the I Love Pangasinan Movement which shares the common goal of helping the Pangasinenses uplift their living conditions

Ferrer said the Jobs and Livelihood Fair which expects at least a thousand participants will be held hand in hand with the Special Membership Day for OF/Ws in Mangaldan to register and become members of the association.

Ferrer noted that the association invites not only the Overseas Filipino Workers to become part of the organization but also other members of their family including the spouse, children and parents as he urged family members of immigrants who want to register with the association to participate in the event.

Ferrer said that this will also enjoin wider participation to the anti-drug, illegal recruitment and human trafficking campaign of the provincial government.

The One-Stop Shop services for government programs and services will include provincial government offices which will cater livelihood and employment opportunities and government agencies like the Social Security System, PAGIBIG, and PhilHealth to provide service to the people.

Lingayen- – -The provincial government through an approved resolution by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) expressed its profoundest gratitude and appreciation to the USNS Mercy,transnational contingent of medical professionals on board the U.S. Naval Hospital Ship, for concluding its humanitarian mission to the Philippines with a three-day stay in Pangasinan from August 10-12.

Provincial Resolution No. 1513-2015, which was approved last August 17, stated that the province recognizes the immeasurable contributions of the USNS Team in the conduct of worthwhile activities in Pangasinan such as Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief; Public Health Diseases Symposium focused on various diseases such as tuberculosis, leprosy, leptospirosis and dengue; Environmental Sanitation engagement site inspection among identifies business establishments; Mobile Blood Donation activity; TB Suyod; preparation for cleft-palate surgesy; Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Demonstration and Rapid Rabies Detection Test’ Demonstration of Chemical Castration in Dogs with zeuterin; and a two-day Basic Life Support Training at Subic bay where PHP medical and hospital EMTs participated.

As stated in the resolution, the provincial government recognizes the selfless efforts of the USNS Mercy Team in promoting the well-being of Pangasinenses.

Meanwhile, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. earlier expressed optimism that the holding of the outreach work headed by Capt. Brian Delamont, mission deputy commander, has served as the beginning of a more lasting partnership between the province and the participating groups in the Pacific Partnership.

The governor said Pangasinan is grateful for the spirit of volunteerism accorded by the USNS team as he added that the sharing of expertise and services done by the group goes beyond partnership.

The Pangasinan sojourn was the fourth-leg of their mission to the country which included similar outreach efforts in Subic, Zambales, Roxas City in Capiz and Metro-Manila.

Officially known as the US Pacific Partnership, the contingent was first deployed in response to one of the world’s most catastrophic natural disasters, the December 2004 tsunami that devastated parts of Southeast Asia, killing tens of thousands of people. (Ruby R. Bernardino)

Public health gets booster shot with newly-hired nurses of DOH.
Some 47 licensed nurses who were hired and deployed by the Department of Health to various provincial government-owned hospitals pay a courtesy call to Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. at the Capitol Bldg. in Lingayen last August 17.
The Governor urged the nurses to join his administration’s campaign in making Pangasinan “The Home of Healthiest Filipino” by providing Pangasinenses with quality health care.  With the Governor is Provincial Health Officer Anna Ma.Teresa de Guzman.  /VFSison